Falco's new medical show slammed by real nurses

The Sopranos actress plays a pill-popping medic who tries to even out the Big Apple's injustices with some ethically questionable behaviour.

But even before the pilot airs on American network Showtime, the concept has been slammed by members of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), who want a disclaimer added to the end credits.

The NYSNA's CEO Tina Gerardi writes in a letter to the channel, "We believe that the public's view of nurses is influenced by TV dramas, and we have yet to see an accurate portrayal of what nurses really do.

"It is our responsibility as the state nurses' association to speak out on behalf of our profession, which often is misunderstood and marginalized by the media."

But Showtime has defended its latest project - insisting viewers will be able to differentiate between reality and fiction.

A spokesperson for the network says, "This is a show of fiction, and its purpose, first and foremost, is entertainment.

"We are confident the viewing public will understand that and can differentiate between a work of fiction and a documentary, which this clearly is not."